The concept of "bus rapid transit" has long been a laughable contradiction in terms. Even where specific lanes have been reserved for buses, as on 34th St. in midtown, all manner of motorists have felt free to intrude because violations have borne little risk of punishment.

But cameras - akin to red-light cameras - should change the equation. Hmm, should I park my delivery truck and run inside when that bus coming along with a camera out front or that camera on the lamppost could snap me with a $115 fine? I hope not.

The Assembly has long resisted expanding video enforcement. And the Legislature approved the move for only a few corridors: Fordham Road in the Bronx, First and Second Aves. in Manhattan, Nostrand Ave. in Brooklyn, Hylan Blvd. on Staten Island and 34th St.

The MTA and the city must take full advantage. Cameras must be mounted and public education must begin, well, rapidly. And then traffic speeds must be monitored closely. Significant improvements might even eliminate the rationale behind Transportation Commissioner Janette Sadik-Khan's plans to spend more than $125 million redesigning traffic patterns on 34th St.

Transit planners dream of deploying buses as a sort of surface subway. Wouldn't that be nice?